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1849
----------------------
Legislature passed an Act which established free
public schools in New York State.
1851
------------------------
The Lancaster School (which arrived in Schenectady
in 1818), located on College Street was the main
institution of learning for the first half of the 19th
century. It was named after English schoolmaster,
Joseph Lancaster who developed the "monitor system."
In 1851,
the Lancaster School Board recommended the adoption of a
Schenectady free school system based upon a model
organized in Troy.
1854
-----------------------
March 15
It was resolved and the Board approved the
reorganization and improvement of the school system of
the city of Schenectady. The resolution was signed by
the school's trustee and sent to the appropriate State
Senate committee. The city's free school system opened.
April 09
Governor Horatio Seymour signed the bill authorizing the
establishment of The Schenectady Free School
System. An 8-member Board of Education was
created and the Common Council recommended that the city
impose school taxes on real and personal property. The
issue of these new taxes fueled a debate over the
Free School System.
April 15
The new board convened at the court house for its first
meeting and ordered the transfer of Lancaster System
assets to the new system.
Mayor
Mordecai Myers resigned at the age of 79 - he disagreed
with the plan. His duties were turned over to foundry
owner Caper Hoag.
|
At this time, Schenectady had the only school
system in the United States that could educate
its children from the lowest grades through
college. |
At the
first Schenectady School Board meeting, two
commissioners from each of the four wards of the city
were selected:
First
Ward: Alonzo C. Paige and Nicholas Van Vranken (elected
president)
Second Ward: D.M. Moore and William M. Duane
Third Ward: Charles Chequer and Hiram Champion
Fourth Ward: Rev. I.G. Durgee and D.M. Chadsey (elected
secretary)
Schenectady's First Free School - The city of
Schenectady purchased the Union College (West College)
from Union College which became Schenectady' first free
school - Union School.
The school was ready to open with 8 grades - 4
primary and 4 intermediate.
1855
----------------------
A Union School dedication ceremony for the free
school took place
on October 12. The school opened three days later with
five
teachers and 550 students.
First
Superintendent: George B. Cook
1856
----------------------
The
school became overcrowded as it grew to include 1,100
students. It was temporarily closed and the unused
third floor was renovated to expand the school.
April
23
The Union School had grown to include
twenty teachers for more than 1,100 students.
Schools were
Segregated
A colored school annex served 37 African American
students in the basement of the Jay Street
African Church.
1857
------------------------
The first high school was established.
Union
College graduate and Civil War veteran Samuel B. Howe
was named the school's first principal.
1870
-----------------------
Key issues: improved curriculum, working conditions for
teachers and delineation of student responsibilities.
Annual
teacher salaries ranged from $300 - $450, somewhat
lower than state average.
Average class size was around 65 students per
teacher.
Most
teachers were women. Efforts were made to recruit
more men to teach.
Class
sizes continued to increase along with Schenectady's
population. Some class sizes had grow to 75 - 100
students (above three times the average).
1872
------------------------
The Union Classical Institute (UCI) was built on the
the site of what is now the Mohawk Club.
1873
-----------------------
Eight years following the Civil War, Schenectady
integrated its schools.
Population
continues to grow. Kindergarten is introduced.
1875
----------------------
Legislature passed Compulsory Education Act.
1886
----------------------
Schenectady's populations soared from 14,000 to
36,682
This was the result of a huge flood of immigrants and
Edison Machine Works.
1891
----------------------
Schenectady's population grows to 72,682
1903
------------------------
Nott Terrace High School constructed.
In the
early 1900's eight additional schools were built:
Euclid
Park Place
Third Avenue
Seward
Halsey
Nott Terrace Elementary
Union Street School
Broadway
1904
-----------------------
Brandywine School was built.
1905
----------------------
Elmer Avenue School was built.
1907
---------------------
The Franklin School was built
John T. Freeman was named Superintendent
1908
--------------------
The district grew to include:
13
buildings
150 teachers
High School Population of 693
Intermediate School was introduced
The
following schools were built:
Vocational
Fulton
Horace Mann
Lincoln
Washington Irving
Schenectady School Board Member Charles P. Steinmetz,
renowned General Electric scientist pushed for an
additional 30 classroom throughout the schools. He
also:
introduced free textbooks for primary students
established a free lunch program
pushed
for special education for special needs and disabled
children
Mr.
Freeman resigned as Superintendent (faced with
opposition from the BOE over his methods and
antagonistic ways).
Dr. Brubacher moved from high school principal post to
Superintendent of the School of Technology - which was
started in the Nott Street School.
1909
-------------------
McKinley School was built
1910
------------------
Howe School was built
1912
-------------------
Charles P. Steinmetz became Board of Education
President
He served on the Board from 1911 - 1916.
1914
-----------------
Four more schools were built:
Van
Corlaer
Woodlawn
Yates
Hamilton
Over 54%
of Schenectady school children were either foreign or
from homes with strong foreign background.
1919
-----------------
The Edison School was built.
1920
-----------------
Classes for mentally handicapped children were
started
With
coming of women's voting rights n 1920, girls were
encouraged to take courses in civics, economics and
political science.
New
playgrounds were constructed.
Organized
sports programs were introduced.
1922
------------------
Population increased to the point where the high
school went to double shift. 1,212 students attended
morning session. 700 students attended afternoon
session.
Between
1922 and 1924, three more schools were built:
Pleasant Valley
Riverside Elementary School
Oneida School
Five
schools were expanded:
Central Park
Van Corlaer
McKinley
Nott Street
Washington Irving
1926
--------------------
Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard became Superintendent
1927
--------------------
Department of Visual Education was formed.
General
Electric contributed more than $50,000 worth of science
films and lantern slides to the district.
Certification Required
Every teacher in the district was required to hold a
college diploma or teaching certificate in order to
instruct.
1929
--------------------
Schenectady's population reached 95,000
(the start of the Great Depression)
Dr.
Stoddard resigns as superintendent.
Mr. W.
Howard Pillsbury took office as superintendent.
1930
-------------------
A $1,200,000 bond issue was approved for the
construction of Mont Pleasant High School.
1931
------------------
Mont Pleasant High School opened.
Jesse T.
Zoller became the Board of Education first woman
president
1946
-----------------
Dr. Harry J. Linton became superintendent
Linton oversaw continued improvement in district
testing, special education programs and accessible
education for handicapped students.
Schenectady City School District included:
12,000 students
571
teachers
21
principals
1951
---------------
Board of Education became fiscally independent
1953
--------------
Two schools opened:
-
Grout
Park
-
Paige Elementary School
$1.8
million approved by BOE to construct Zoller School and
make additions to Yates and Howe Schools
1954
--------------
Dr. Robert E. Murray was named Superintendent of
Schools
$5
million bond was approved to replace Nott Terrace
High School.
City
residents voted in favor of elected school board
1955
--------------
Zoller Elementary School opened
1957
-------------
Linton High School was built and opened in 1958
This is
around the same time that Schenectady demolished the
Union School Building.
10,000 -
12,000 adults attend evening classes.
The
percentage of males teachers was higher.
Schenectady population increased to 96,000
The school
budget passed the $5,500,000 mark.
1968
------------
Martin Luther King School opened
1972
-----------
New Woodlawn School opened
District
began experimental "open school" at Washington Irving
1974
-----------
District offices formerly located at 108 Union
Street were relocated to 108 Brandywine Avenue.
1984
----------
District enrollment: 7,990
1985
---------
District enrollment: 7,918
1986
--------
District enrollment: 7,805
1987
--------
District enrollment: 7,674
1988
-----------
District underwent redistricting process and began
magnet school program.
-
Three
magnet school
Howe
International Magnet School
Dr.
Luther King Jr. Math Science Technology & Invention
Magnet School
Yates
Arts-In-Education Magnet School
1989
---------
District enrollment: 7,471
1990
-----------
The General Electric Foundation enters into a
partnership to establish College Bound Program at
Schenectady High School (this is later expanded to
become a smaller learning community).
District
enrollment: 7.427
1991
----------
District enrollment: 7,528
1992
------------
June 25
Linton High School and Mont Pleasant High School were
consolidated. The Linton building became home of the
new high school. The school colors were combined to
become red, white and blue
Mont
Pleasant re-opened as a middle school.
District
enrollment: 7,628
1993
-----------
Dr. Raymond Colucciello was named superintendent of
schools
The 108
District Offices are moved to Mont Pleasant. An
administrative wing is located at the back of the
building.
The address was changed to 108 Education Drive
District
enrollment: 7,693
1994
----------
The district began a five-year $22 million
technology initiative. By 1997, all classrooms were
wired for the Internet and state-of-the art computers
put in all school.
John Falco
is named deputy superintendent.
Pleasant
Valley Elementary School becomes district's fourth
magnet school - The Academy of Culture and Community at
Pleasant Valley, a neighborhood magnet
school.
District
enrollment: 7,755
1995
---------
The Board of Education developed a goal to recruit,
develop and train new staff members. The district,
under deputy superintendent John Falco, implemented the
Schenectady Center for Professional Development.
District
enrollment: 7,851
1996
----------
The district completed a $4.3 million Capital
Project expenditure
In August
1997, the Board approved spending $6 million through
1999 for additional Capital Projects in order to advance
the district into 7-year plan.
District
enrollment: 7,956
1997
---------
October 15
Schenectady High School athletic facility is named
Pat Riley Sports Center. Pat Riley returned to
Schenectady High School for a dedication ceremony.
Partnership with CISCO Systems leads to CISCO Academy at
Schenectady High School.
District
enrollment: 8,116
1999
--------
January 26
Voters approved a bond referendum spending $21.4
million through 2001 for additional capital project
including:
Aquatic center and pool
School
of Fine Arts
Classroom additions and reconstruction
Mutli-purpose
cafeteria rooms
Athletic fields
Playground
Technology enhancements
District
enrollment: 8,529
2001
--------
September
The Sayles School of Fine arts opened. The new center
included 250 seat Black Box Theatre, dance studio, state
of the art computer graphics lab, new orchestra and band
areas, musician rehearsal room and classrooms.
Schenectady High School was one of the few schools in
the area to offer the International Baccalaureate
Program (IB)
Dr.
Coluciello retires as superintendent
John Falco
is named superintendent of schools
Under
Falco, the Schenectady School District earned a number
of prestigious grants. In 2001, the district was named
lead educational agency for Project VIEW, a 5-year $10
million grant issued by the U.S. Department of
Education.
Schenectady was also the recipient of a 5-year, $2.5
million teacher enhancement-local system change grant
from the National Science Foundation.
Schenectady was named one of seven portals for education
and was selected to partner with Time Warner Cable and
C-SPAN for a Cable in the Classroom Demonstration
Project.
District
enrollment: 8,843
2002
----------
January 18
Ribbon cutting ceremony for new pool and aquatic center.
Swimming
programs were reborn.
Schenectady High School transformed into four smaller
learning communities:
The
Sayles School of Fine Arts
The
School of Math, Science and Technology
The
School of Global Commerce
The GE
School of Humanities and Culture
The
Career Center at Steinmetz was later added as the
fifth high school community
District
enrollment: 8,924
2003
-----------
Full day kindergarten classes became available in
all elementary schools
District
enrollment: 9,052
2004
-----------
Voters approve $30.5 million capital project
The
Schenectady City School District celebrated 150 years of
excellence in education
District
enrollment: 9,209
2005
----------
April 14
The district debuts its 24-hours cable television
station - SCS-TV, channel 17 on Time Warner Cable.
Sixth
grade is back in three elementary schools: Howe, King
and Yates.
District
enrollment: 9,479
2006
-----------
Superintendent John Falco retires
Assistant
Superintendent Eric Ely is named superintendent
District
progresses with plan to move 6th grade back into
elementary school buildings.
District
enrollment: 9,540
2007
----------
Voters approve $48.2 million capital project which
includes work at 14 district building and expands
efforts that began in 2004.
The Fulton Early Childhood Education Center at
Fulton opens
Voters
approved leasing St. Luke's building to open 13th
elementary school in 2008 - William C. Keane Elementary
School to address growing population. School will serve
students in grades 1 - 8.
District
enrollment: 9,573
2008
---------
The
Schenectady City School District includes about 10,000
students.
13
elementary schools
3
middle schools
1
high school - with 5 smaller learning communities
1
adult education center
As the city is being revitalized and new business and
new families continue to move to Schenectady, the
Schenectady City School District expects enrollment
figures will continue to rise.
2010
---------
The Board
of Education buys out remainder of Eric Ely's contract.
John Yagielski is hired as interim superintendent.
2011
-----------
District
includes about 9,800 students.
Operating
Budget: $160,708,288
2 Early
Childhood Education Ctrs.
9 Elementary Schools - K-6
2 Neighborhood Magnet Schools - K-6
2 Magnet Schools - K-8
2 Middle Schools
1 Success Academy for Middle School Students
1 High School - with 5 smaller learning communities
1 Adult Education Center
Capital
District YMCA operates pool at Schenectady HS
|
At A Glance
Free
School System Established
Union School Opens on College Street
5 Teachers
550 Students
School
Grows to Include 1,100 Students
School
Adds Teachers
Now 20 Teachers
Segregation
37 African Americans Attend School in Jay Street
Basement
First
High School Established
Samuel
B. Howe is Named First Principal
Population Continues to Increase
Class
sizes grown to 75- 100 students
U.C.I
established
Sch'dy
integrates schools
Kindergarten is introduced.
City
population reaches 36,682
City
population grows to 72,628
Nott
Terrace High School Constructed
Eight
new schools were built to meet population challenges.
Brandywine School was built
Elmer
Avenue School was built
Franklin School was built
John
Freeman was named superintendent
5 New
new schools are built
Nott
Street School Starts School of Technology
Dr. Brubacher is named superintendent of school.
McKinley School was built
Howe
School was built
Charles
P. Steinmetz became Board of Education President
4 more
school are built
Strong
foreign population
Edison
School was built
Classes
for mentally handicapped started
Organized sports introduced
Due to overcrowding, high school goes to double shift
3 more
schools are built
5
schools were enlarged
Dr. Stoddard is named Superintendent
Visual
Education formed.
GE
contributed to dept.
Teacher certification required
City
population reaches 95,000
Dr.
Stoddard resigns.
Howard
Pillsbury is named superintendent
Mont
Pleasant High School opened
Jesse
T. Zoller became the BOE first woman president
Dr. Harry Linton became superintendent.
Following WW II,
District grows to include 12,000 students
2
school opened
Dr.
Robert Murray named Superintendent
Residents vote in favor of elected school board
Zoller
opened
Linton H.S. built and opened
The district includes
25 schools
13,000 students
Schenectady population increases even more
ML King
School opened
New Woodlawn School opened
Experimental Open School
108
Offices relocated
Redistricted
Magnet
School program began
Linton
and Mont Pleasant High School Merge
Mont
Pleasant Middle School opens.
Ray
Colucciello is named superintendent
108
District Offices moved to Mont Pleasant
and called 108 Education Drive
District began
technology initiative
Pleasant Valley becomes magnet school
$4.3
million capital project
Athletic facilities named in honor of Pat Riley
$21.4
million capital project
Sayles
School of Fine Arts Opens
Raymond
Coluciello retires as superintendent
John
Falco is named superintendent
Schenectady is named lead agency for $10 million Project
VIEW grant.
Pool
opens
High
School divided into smaller learning communities
Full
day kindergarten district wide
$30.5
million capital project
150th
Anniversary
District moves
6th
grade in three elementary schools
John
Falco retires from Superintendent post
Eric Ely is named superintendent
$48.2
million capital project. Work begins on 14 district
buildings
Early
Childhood Center opens
District to open new elementary school
July 2010
John Yagielski is hired as interim superintendent
6th grade
is in all elementary schools.
Two
elementary schools include 8th grade. |
